Cafe Habana

BY FAR MY FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN NEW YORK CITY!

Logistics: Place is very tiny, probably sits about 50ish people at a time, so because of the fame of this place waiting time is a bit lengthy but not as long as Serendipity 3 on Lexington. Service is amazing and if you go on Tuesdays and Saturdays, you might be lucky to have the oldest of their waitresses who is just super friendly and nice.

Now where to begin, where to begin.

Ah! The Corn!

So if you Google Cafe Habana, ask people about it, etc one of the first things you’ll learn is that they’re famous for their corn.

If you watch the movie Friends with Benefits with Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake one of the scenes includes the two enjoying some of this hole-in-the-wall but incredibly famous restaurant in NYC.

This appetizer is steamed corn on the cob smothered with cotija cheese, chili powder and lime served on a bed of lettuce leaves. Absolutely amazing!

Other people will tell you because its something like they’ve never had. Others love the spicy, cheesy goodness.

I love it because it reminds me of the corn at ACME restaurant that used to be on NYU’s campus, unfortunately I recently discovered it was closed. (Sad b/c I really wanted to write a review!)

And because it reminds me of our Elotes Locos or Crazy Corn as we call it in El Salvador.

Main Entrees.

My favorite? El Pollo Mirador. Second favorite? Chuleta De Puerco a La Pimienta. Both $13.50

El Pollo Mirador: Tender chicken breast sauteed in a delicious garlic & lemon sauce, served with white rice and spicy spinach (I’ve also had it with black beans instead of the spinach and love it more with the beans).

My mouth is watering just writing about this. OMG, you have never had Cuban like this. Unless of course you live in Miami, or have a Cuban mother who blesses you dearly. The garlic sauce is just incredible. And its not like its a stingy drop of sauce, No. Your plate is drained in sauce and even then there still isn’t enough by the time you’re left with the last bit of rice and beans/spinach. I hate when my food touches but in this case each bite must have all three components. A MUST TRY.

Chuleta De Puerco a la Pimienta: A big nice cut of pork chop grilled in like a pepper sauce served with rice, black beans and a slice of bread with the most delicious spread that I’m mad at myself I haven’t asked what it is exactly.

If you think just that sounds delish let me tell you there’s more. The key component of this dish is the mushroom chipotle”au poivre” sauce. Definitely gives the Garlic sauce competition. It is so so so GOOD! And the best part is that you get a side sauce bowl of this delicious peppery, chipotle mushroom sauce so you’re not left wanting more before entering a food coma.

I’m just sitting here shaking my head because I’m writing this review and not out eating it.

Other dishes I know people have loved and are left wanting more of are: Tacos Al Pastor ($9.95), Cuban Sandwich ($9.75), Enchilidas Suizas and Enchildas De Mole Poblano (both $ 12.50)

It seems like this little restaurant in NoLita is good for just about everything. Cuban and Mexican.

I can’t lie this is my little secret treasure in NYC and the prices are incredible!

If you can please do order an extra side of platanos fritos, or sweet plantains! It is definitely worth having with your meal! And if you can share with someone else GREAT!

If you so happen to sit at the bar, or don’t I have to tell you passing up a chance at their Frozen Margaritas, Margarita on the Rocks or Mojitos is not a good idea. They really do complete your meal and experience. Don’t drink? Order a Jarito, a Mexican Soda that is just delicious and will send you right back to summer memories because of the fruity sensation.

I just love everything about this place. I’m actually happy its not a big large scale restaurant because then their service wouldn’t be as great, the food wouldn’t come out as fast and yet be delicious and just make you so happy. The only negative is that its so small you can’t get up and start dancing Salsa, which they’re ALWAYS playing and ALWAYS make you want to dance.

Don’t have time to wait? You’re in luck. They have a carryout spot next door and they also deliver locally (if you’re lucky enough).

A must must go. Add it to your bucket list, harass your boyfriend, your friends, idc what you have to do to go But you MUST GO!

Little Cupcake Bake Shop

My first Cupcake Love in the SoHo area.

Located in NoHo, right around the corner from Pink Berry and Cafe Habana, Little Cupcake Bakeshop was always my go-to cupcake shop whenever I just got out of dinner or finished shopping.

I always loved the fact that they stay open until 11 and sometimes I feel like they weren’t anal about locking up right away, I think I’ve walked in there a bit later, maybe, I don’t know, I never take a look at my watch.

The atmosphere is so adorable! It kind of reminds me of the 1950’s with their black and white tiled floors. Kind of like a Soda shop. Its not huge like Martha’s out in Bayside but it is big enough for a couple of tables.

There’s usually almost always a nice little elderly couple or middle-aged couple on a date here. (AW!)

They have cupcakes, cakes, pies and muffins among more stuff. They also offer coffee and tea to have with your desert.

Like I’ve stated before, in some places like Crumbs, I am hesitant about tasting their Red Velvet Cupcakes.

However, the first cupcake I had here was the Red Velvet. Why? Because the environment and decoration of the shop made me feel like they knew what they were doing.

And two because they also have a Blue Velvet Cupcake and Cake.

Now I know you’re thinking “Um excuse me hungry person behind the screen, its just food dye” but think about it a place has to have good reputation on a classic to want to mix it up and play around with food coloring.

Or at least that’s my notion, but regardless it worked.

Because It was love at first bite when I tasted their delicious, moist, soft cupcakes with that delicious cream cheese frosting.

Now for those who don’t know Red Velvet Cupcakes are not made of real red velvet that you use as upholstry or on clothes, its actually a chocolate cupcake just doens’t have the strong chocolate flavor like a Devil’s Cupcake would. Or German Chocolate. Or dark chocolate.

(Someone once tried to tell me it was made up of Cayanne pepper! The nerve of that person!)

I love chocolate, but chocolate cupcakes tend to me quite a bit parch if I must say. That’s why I love red velvet because you get a bit of the cocoa flavor and the cream cheese frosting isn’t as dense and sweet as chocolate or vanilla frosting that tends to cover a chocolate cupcake.

So my reccomendation: Eat the Red Velvet Cupcake!

I don’t care if you’re counting calories, the fluffiness of the bread will make you feel like you’re hardly eating anything at all (Like those ridiculous 3Muskateers commercial)

Cupcake No. 2: Fresaaaaa or Strawberry for my non-spanish speaking visitors.

In a nutshell: Delicious and Creamy.

It doesn’t have actual strawberry chunks like other cupcakes I’ve had but it does however have a very creamy yummy frosting. And its so pretty in pink.

I think by now you’ve noticed that Red Velvet and Strawberry are my favorite so usually thats all I tend to get. But if a place is good enough to make me come back for my favorite then they’re doing something right!

I def recommend giving it a shot when you’re in the area. Hey! Why not even go for a splurge!

Go to both Little Cupcake Bake Shop and Georgetown Cupcake and tell me which you think is best!

My next mission: To try the blue velvet and see if there’s any other difference other than color.

Oh! There’s also one in Brooklyn in case you want to steer away from the masses of retail addicts in the area!

Bubby’s Tribeca

The first time I heard about this place it was described as “a carnivore’s sex menu.”

Now if you’re like me you’re probably thinking “HUH?! What in the… I thought this blog was about food.” Yeah I know I pictured a zombie ordering a big ol’ plate of arms and legs at a sterile counter as well… to be used for um, not so good public behavior.

Luckily this is NOT what Bubby’s is about.

To be honest I didn’t trust my friend with the oh-so-appetizing suggestion. So I did what I do best: Google and Yelp!

After looking over the menu’s online (they have a different menu for almost every part of the day) I figured it was worth a shot. So off we go to Tribeca!

Apperently Bubby’s is famous for their pies and various plates from different areas of the country. Not just BBQ and meats like I thought.

Finding it isn’t hard really but it is helpful to find the cow at like 9pm when its dark around you.

Upon stepping inside we got seated immediately. Even though it is a farily large restaurant, there was a whole entire wall of couples lined up so we got placed between two couples busily chit-chatting away.

Although being seated immediately was great, having to talk over but quietly enough not to be heard by others was pretty difficult. Especially when you’re underage and it seems that everyone around you has had one too many (the lady to our right was a character!) But I guess Bubby’s is just the perfect place to unwind after a long Wednesday at work.

Ok enough about people. On to the good stuff: FOOD! I mean after all this IS what this blog is about right?

First and foremost: DO NOT–I repeat–DO NOT have any large meal for lunch and then go to Bubby’s. NO! You need every single bit of space in your stomach.

Secondly, Yes I know my intentions were to have a “cheap-eats” but I have the hardest time sticking to that sometimes. Bubby’s dinner plates usually start at about $16 (at least online, there’s a surprise at the restaurant) but for the sake of this blog, and my already full stomach I got the cheapest things on the entrees menu.

I ordered the Green Mole Chicken Tacos. Ok so here’s the surprise. Online it says $16 for a platter. But when you go in you get a little surprise of having a one, two or three taco options, varying your prices from about $10.95-17.95. Good huh?

At first I was going to get the one taco but I thought “No I can eat two.” Um I was wrong >.<

The portions at this place are HUGE! Like I mean HUGE! My two tacos combined were practically the size of my head.

Not to mention that it also includes two sides of green rice (Amazing) and black beans (Amazing) which were just great (meaning FABULOUS) together!

Even though the tacos were good I must say that they were a bit disappointing. The positives are that they were loaded with chicken and not just dry burnt chicken. No. Tender, moist chicken breast that when I tried to take a fork full off my taco it just tore apart because it was so tender.

The tacos were also topped with lettuce, cheese, sour cream and lime making up for the lack of flavor I expected but didn’t get.

If you read my previous blogs you would know I love spicy food. So if I read “green chicken mole” I expect hot green mole. But I didn’t get any. Now I’m not going to say this was a complete turn off but I did have to ask for tobasco sauce to add that hot flavor.

Thankfully everything else was great so the substitution of tobasco didn’t affect me much. If you don’t like spicy foods and you like Mexican then this is your dish!

My friend–the carnivore– ordered the House Smoked Pit Barbeque Combo ($28)

Basically what the Pit BBQ is fresh, naturally raised meats BBQ’d in their own “Hickory Pit.”

The combo consisted of three meats and two sides. Usually you hear more than one meat and you think smaller portions because they’re letting you taste it but no this is not the case. The portions seemed pretty regular to me.

His platter included: Home made Texas Hot Link, Brisket and Spare Ribs with Hush Puppies and Fries. Honestly I now know what he meant by “sex menu” the ultimate pleaser for meat-lovers. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plate stacked up as high as his.

I got to taste the brisket which was very tender and enjoyable. I figured brisket would be something like a pulled pork and it was pretty pleasant to know it indeed was soft and juicy.

Even though I personally would have ordered greens and mashed potatoes as my sides, the hush puppies were pleasantly enjoyable. Especially when dipped in the sauce that was given with, DELISH.

And now the best part… DESERT!!

So I went on the first day of Lent. And for Lent I gave up cupcakes 😦

Luckily for me, Bubby’s is famous for their Pies! Yes, they had cupcakes but they had a full list of pies offered at the moment. I couldn’t decide between the Apple Pie and Pecan Pie (unfortunately, the Cherry Pie was sold out) So Apple Pie it was… AND Oh God was it worth it!

At $8 a slice you get just enough crust and apple filling to make lovers of either happy. I prefer a pie with more crust than filling but this was just a perfect combination of both!

Served with a scoop of whipped cream, the pie wasn’t too sweet to make you down a whole glass of water and it was sprinkled powdered sugar if your sweet tooth does crave more.

Hmm now what else can I say about Bubby’s. Oh! Biscuits! Home made buttery warm biscuits! Served right along with homemade grape jelly and butter! Nice warm and flaky biscuits without being to greasy so you won’t feel guilty about smothering jelly and butter over it. AMAZING.

I think if I could go back I would have just saved myself the trouble of struggling to finish my huge plate of food and ordered more biscuits. I love biscuits and next to Cracker Barrel’s biscuits these are some of the best I’ve tasted!

So entree, desert, appetizer and now drinks. Fresh presses. And I mean FRESH! Tasting the cranberry-lime, as a lover of sour drinks like freshly squeezed lemonade I couldn’t help but pucker up every time I took a sip of this refreshing drink. The taste of the lime did over power the cranberry because unlike the pineapple-lime, which was sweeter and a perfect combo of both, the cranberry-lime was still great.

Ok so there you have it. My quick but lengthy review of Bubby’s. Which honestly, I don’t know how I even remembered anything. I should be in a food coma after how much I ate that day. But here I am making plans when to visit this restaurant who claims to “Defend the American Table” and in fact does. Next dish: Fried Chicken! And don’t forget the biscuits!